MOVIE OF THE WEEK 4/27/2020
(Yes there will be spoilers)
Released in 1981, this has been known to be Brian DePalma’s biggest box office failure. Over time, it has been considered to be his masterpiece. Sound effects specialist Jack witnesses a car crashing into the river. Only able to save one life he saves Sally and leaves the 2nd victim behind. Later, he finds out that the latest Governor was in the car. As the story evolves, Jack realizes that the tire was shot out, and it was intended that the Governor die. Jack stops at nothing to make sure the truth gets out, putting his new friend Sally in harms way.
There was a period in Brian Depalma’s career where he was really the new master of suspense. Highly influenced by Hitchcock, his wave of ground breaking thrillers started with Sisters, and ended with Body Double. To say he was ripping off Hitchcock is rather unfair. Hitchcock basically wrote the book on Thrillers. It’s impossible these days to do a Horror or Thriller and not take from Hitchcock. Even Hostel takes from Hitchcock. From Eli Roths cameo, to making the character Josh the Marion Crane of the movie.
Not only is this my favorite Brian Depalma film (with Sisters at a close second), but it’s also my favorite John Travolta film. You have to understand, that around this time John Travolta was a huge star. Straight off of Saturday Night Fever, and Grease, Blow Out was definitely breaking the rhythm that he was
dancing to. Previously working with Depalma and Nancy Allen in Carrie he already had a great relationship with them.
The brilliant John Lithgow played the villain hot on their tail to erase any evidence and witnesses related to the controversial blow out. He proves to be a terrifying villain, and its probably this performance that lead him on the path to such movies as Raising Cain, Ricochet, and of course Dexter.
One of many things I love about Depalmas films is the way he starts them off. He really gives you an all bets are off feeling. From the game show in Sisters, the shower scene in Dressed to Kill, to the Billy Idol looking vampire in Body Double.
Blow Out starts off as a sleazy slasher film shown in POV of the killer. A very popular thing in the early 80’s from the success of Halloween and Friday the 13th. You then realize it’s just the director and Travolta working on this slasher film, and now the real movie begins.
The other main thing I love about Brian’s films is his endings. You never know where he’s gonna take this story. But chances are if the characters are self destructive, then someones gonna die. In this case, Sally dies by John Lithgow’s hands. Jack, arriving too late kills Lithgow. The brilliance is Jack uses Sally’s recorded scream in the slasher film he’s working on. Travolta’s best performance is his emotional response every time he has to hear that scream.
Is it a shame that it didn’t do well at the box office? Not necessarily. Some of the best films fail at the box office and then find it’s audience through home video. This is number 2 on my top 10 favorite list. I can’t imagine it being bumped off any time soon. This movie is not for everyone. Especially the common modern movie goer today. Audiences these days want the fast food of movies. Fuck the back story, fuck character development, let’s just move forward. Brian doesn’t do that. He takes his time, builds suspense to the point where you’re about to go nuts, and gives the characters such depth that you would have to be a cold hearted asshole not to feel for them.
If you do check this out, please pick up the Criterion version of this. The extras are a movie fans dream, and the transfer is like watching it again for the first time.
Thanks gang. See ya next week.
– G.R.E.E.N.B.A.N.K.
MORBID MOVIE MEMOIRS: VHS GENERATION 